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A recent YouGov poll found that 92% of people want to see a bank on their high street - the same proportion that also wants to see a Post Office, too.

The falling number of bank branches can be partly explained by the rise of online banking.

The 2018 annual report from UK Finance, the trade association for the UK banking and financial services sector, found that nearly 22 million people in the UK regularly used banking apps in 2017 - a 12 per cent rise from the previous year.

A UK Finance spokesperson said: “Bank branches play an important role in local communities which is why decisions to close them are only ever taken after all other options, like reducing opening hours and staff numbers, have been exhausted.

Bank closures are a serious blow for older people, experts have said (Image: PA)

“Under the industry’s Access to Banking Standard, information and support is provided to customers to minimise the impact of branch closures, helping them to access alternative ways to bank.

“Bank branch visits have fallen by a quarter since 2012, with the development of new technology meaning it’s now easier for people to do their banking at a time and place that is convenient to them.

“But technology is not for everyone which is why all the major banks offer day-to-day banking services through 11,500 Post Office branches.

“That means there are now more places where you can bank than ever before. This is important to make sure that no-one gets left behind, which is why banks are continuing to invest in new ATMs and mobile bank branches to reach out to more communities."

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People in rural or isolated areas are in the worst cases stranded with no access to a local bank branch at all.

“While many older people are online and some use online banking and appreciate its convenience, many have a strong preference for in-branch banking. Online banking can be difficult for many older people, for example those with visual impairments or dexterity problems.